Venezuela's Chavez denies rumors of health setback

President says he is at work and expects to finish with cancer treatments soon

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In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds a baseball after delivering a message on state TV at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday Sept. 29.

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denied rumors of a setback in his health, saying Thursday that he is at work and expects to finish with cancer treatments soon.

Chavez called state television and urged Venezuelans to "pay no attention to rumors." He appeared to be referring to a report in El Nuevo Herald of Miami that he had been hospitalized and that his condition might be deteriorating.

"I'm fine," Chavez said. "I'm here in my place of work and working."

Chavez said he is taking steroids and other medicines as he recovers from chemotherapy treatments for cancer. He said he is working at "half throttle" while undergoing physical and medical therapy.

"Here I am ... Chavez the candidate of the coming year, President Chavez of 2012, of 2013, 2019," said Chavez, who held a baseball glove while chatting with journalists at the presidential palace.

Chavez noted that he is doing light exercises as part of his efforts toward total recuperation.

"The latest tests, all of them, have shown very positive results," he said.

Rates of women who are opting for preventive mastectomies, such as Angeline Jolie, have increased by an estimated 50 percent in recent years, experts say. But many doctors are puzzled because the operation doesn't carry a 100 percent guarantee, it's major surgery -- and women have other options, from a once-a-day pill to careful monitoring.